Africa’s forests have undergone a dramatic shift since 2010, moving from absorbing carbon to releasing it, according to a new scientific study. The change means all three of the world’s major rainforest regions — the Amazon, south-east Asia and now Africa — are contributing to climate breakdown rather than mitigating it.
Researchers found African forests lost around 106 billion kilograms of biomass every year between 2010 and 2017, equivalent to the weight of 106 million cars. The most severe losses occurred in the tropical broadleaf forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and parts of west Africa.
Human activity is driving the change, with agricultural expansion, mining, infrastructure projects and rising temperatures all degrading ecosystems. Satellite data and machine-learning analysis revealed that Africa’s forests were still gaining carbon between 2007 and 2010, but widespread deforestation and degradation have since tipped them into becoming a net carbon source.
Scientists warn that urgent action is needed to protect remaining forests, calling the trend a threat to one of the planet’s crucial natural carbon buffers. Brazil’s new Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) aims to mobilise more than $100bn to pay countries to keep forests intact, but so far only $6.5bn has been committed.
Prof Heiko Balzter of the University of Leicester said the findings highlight the need for stronger global safeguards: “World leaders pledged to end deforestation by 2030, but progress is far too slow. More countries must invest in forest protection before these ecosystems are lost.”
